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1From a Labor Day weekend trade in 2012 to signing one of the best defensive players of this generation just before the 2018 season began, the NFC North champion Bears were built by two GMs over the span of four head coaches.
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3But no one has more fingerprints on the 12-4 Bears than Ryan Pace.
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5In his first three seasons as GM, the Bears went 14-34. There were more free-agent mistakes than hits. Pace’s first draft pick hasn’t panned out. But in an eight-month span, from hiring Matt Nagy to trading for Khalil Mack, Pace pushed the right buttons to create a roster good enough to not only make the playoffs, but to possibly go on a Super Bowl run and be a contender for years to come.
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7Beginning with Sherrick McManis in 2012 and ending with Mack this past September, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember the acquisition of every starter and notable coach to see how the 2018 Bears were built, from what was said about each key member when he first joined the franchise, and what he’ll mean for this postseason.
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112012
12Aug. 31 — Phil Emery trades Tyler Clutts to the Texans for Sherrick McManis
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14Then: The trade didn’t make much of a ripple effect. McManis was a special-teams stalwart with a local connection. Little did Emery and Lovie Smith know that McManis would not only outlast both of them, but the next two head coaches as well.
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16McManis has consistently been one of the Bears’ leading tacklers in kick and punt coverage. He has re-signed multiple times to return to the Bears, as each special-teams coordinator has valued what he brings to the third phase. In 2015, McManis won the nickel corner job out of camp, but then lost it. He still remained a reserve corner if needed.
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18Now: In 2018, McManis got a new role on defense, where he had rarely appeared since 2015. He would be the Bears’ dime defender, and he proved extremely effective in that spot in Arizona with a sack and interception during Week 3’s comeback win.
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20Then Bryce Callahan went down with a foot injury, forcing McManis, the longest-tenured Bear, to step in as the slot corner. He has played it since Week 14 and handled the tests thrown his way. Quarterbacks are sure to challenge him in the postseason, too. The Bears don’t have to worry about his experience.
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222013
23April 25 — Bears use first-round pick on Oregon OL Kyle Long
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25Then: Phil Emery went “off the board” by taking Long, a pick that was panned by analysts. It’s an example of why immediate draft grades are a fool’s errand.
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27“Very excited Kyle Long is a new member of the Chicago Bears,” Emery said. “From what I understand it’s the first guard we’ve taken since 1960 (in the first round). So a little bit of a change in that regards in where we took one. But, we’re very excited about him. He’s the type of athlete and player that we have targeted — fast, tough, dynamic athlete, a productive athlete. Obviously, he’s traveled down an interesting road to get to the point where he’s at in life, but we’re very excited to welcome him to the Chicago Bears.”
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29As a rookie, Long played every snap at right guard and made the Pro Bowl. He made it again in 2014, starting 15 games. The Bears moved Long to right tackle and he made the Pro Bowl again in 2015.
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31Long got a contract extension in September 2016, but then the injuries began. A serious broken ankle that November ended Long’s season, and he was already playing through an injured labrum that year. Two more injuries in 2017 forced Long to undergo multiple surgeries this past offseason.
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33Now: The face of the franchise during the dark years, Long gets to play in his first career playoff game. He suffered a foot injury on Oct. 28 but came back against the Vikings in Week 17 and should be ready to go in the postseason. In addition to his athleticism and strength, he’s one of those players whose mere presence can help get the most out of his teammates.
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35“I appreciate everything that’s gone on here,” he said. “I’m trying to savor what I can and really understand and appreciate and respect the moment.”
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372014
38May 8 — With the 14th overall pick, Bears draft Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller
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40Then: Even with cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings returning, the Bears addressed their future at the position with Fuller.
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42“Extremely happy to have Kyle Fuller be a new Bear,” Emery said. “This is a player that is universally loved in our building. Coaches loved him when they (evaluated) him. Very high-level grade on him at corner. … This is one tough football player. This is a player with length, skill, athleticism, versatility, productivity and beyond that and the better part of him, is he is even a great person. He is a great representative of the Chicago Bears.”
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44Fuller’s debut — two interceptions in a win over the 49ers — showed his promise, and he was good but not great in 2015. Then in 2016, his season was derailed by a mysterious knee injury, and Vic Fangio publicly questioned if Fuller wanted to play. No Bear has had more of a turnaround in the past two seasons. He was rewarded with a contract extension in March when the Bears matched Green Bay’s offer sheet.
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46Now: Fuller has established himself as one of the game’s best ball-hawking corners. He leads the NFL in interceptions and passes defensed and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. The coaches have lauded his film study for two seasons now, and we’ve seen the results on the field.
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48“Yeah, I’m sure it’s a credit to him, but like you say, getting paid doesn’t change who you are, as far as from a talent level,” Fangio said in November. “But I’m sure it made him feel good he was wanted and stands a good chance to finish his career here, etc. But he’s still got to go out and do it.”
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50May 10 — Bears draft P Pat O’Donnell in the sixth round, then OT Charles Leno Jr. in the seventh round
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52Then: As a seventh-round pick, expectations were so low for Leno that Emery simply referred to him as a “quality backup” at left tackle, which is understandable. Leno didn’t start until 2015 when he filled in for an injured Jermon Bushrod and he hasn’t looked back. He signed a four-year extension prior to the 2017 season.
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54Emery called O’Donnell the best punter in the 2014 draft: “Remarkable athlete. Huge leg. He’s got linebacker stats in terms of the physical upside and the body type.”
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56Last March, O’Donnell re-signed with the Bears on a one-year deal.
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58Now: Leno is as steady as they come. He’s not going to the Pro Bowl, but he’s still a reliable blind-side tackle for the Bears. He has started 61 consecutive games.
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60“He’s very consistent, great pass blocker,” Nagy said. “He’s well-rounded. He’s really good at pass blocking, pass protection. He’s great in the run game. The person, in meetings, the way he is in practice leading that huddle, he’s what you ask for. He’s everything you want in a tackle, and so I appreciate that. He puts in a lot of hard work, he respects this game, he respects his coaches, his teammates, he does it the right way and we’re lucky to have him.”
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62Any home Bears game could involve a field position battle, where O’Donnell will need to come up big. His net-punting average this season is 39.5 yards. His best game came in a playoff environment vs. the Rams with four punts inside the 20.
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662015
67Jan. 8 — Bears hire Ryan Pace as general manager
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69Then: Here’s what Bears president Ted Phillips said the day the Bears hired Pace: “He has the intelligence, the passion, the integrity, high character and toughness to be a strong leader and to make an immediate and lasting impact. He has a clear vision and a plan to build a championship team. He was an integral part of a consistently winning organization in New Orleans and he learned the value of hard work, enjoying his job and the importance of being a team so that every employee not only bought into his vision but knows that their contribution to success matters.”
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71The Bears went 14-34 in Pace’s first three seasons. He received a contract extension last January so that it would line up with the next head coach. The drafting prowess in the mid-to-late rounds was evident, but there were too many free-agent misses and question marks about his top picks for the fan base to be thrilled about the new contract.
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73Now: Pace went from, “How did this guy get a contract extension?” to executive of the year front-runner. From hiring Matt Nagy to helping retain Vic Fangio to trading for and signing Khalil Mack, Pace is responsible for helping build this 2018 roster, but he has also acquired every starter except McManis, Long, O’Donnell, Leno and Fuller during his time as GM. The last time he talked to the media was after trading two first-round picks, a third-rounder and a sixth-rounder for Mack, a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-rounder a year after trading up for Mitch Trubisky.
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75“I think when you talk about being aggressive, it’s easy when you’re talking two positions specifically, quarterback and pass rusher,” he said. “We are going to emphasize those positions. So when a guy like this becomes available in the prime of his career and not just the physical talent; the person that he is, too, and I think you felt a little bit of that, today, you’ve got to be willing to act. We’re never going to be a team that’s going to sit back — we talk about sit on your hands. It’s very easy in our league to play it safe and play it cautious, and not that we’re going to be reckless but we’re going to be aggressive.”
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77May 1 — In Round 2, Bears draft NT Eddie Goldman
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79Then: To make Fangio’s defense work best, the Bears needed a nose tackle, and they didn’t waste time finding one with the second pick of Pace’s tenure.
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81“When I think about the standout traits with Eddie Goldman, it’s strength, stout at the point of attack,” Pace said that night. “He’s very instinctive. He’s strong. He gets off blocks. I really like the pad level he plays with. He steps up in big moments.”
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83Goldman showed a ton of promise as a rookie with 4 1/2 sacks, but injuries limited him to six games in 2016. He returned as a force in 2017 and earned a contract extension this past September.
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85Now: For the first time in his career, Goldman started all 16 games. He has three sacks, including a safety of Jared Goff. He’s established himself as one of the best nose tackles in the NFL and is paramount to the Bears’ stout run defense.
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87“Good, solid play, unselfish, in my opinion, a quiet leader of the team,” Fangio said. “He’s a leader by example, by doing his job, not by using his voice. He’s had a very good season for us and it’s nice to see him make a big play that people would notice.”
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89May 2 — With their fifth-round pick, Bears draft S Adrian Amos
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91Then: When the Bears selected Amos, the goal was to take advantage of his versatility because he played some outside corner and nickel at Penn State.
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93Amos eventually won the starting safety job as a rookie, providing solid but not spectacular play in the back end for his first two seasons. He lost his job in the summer of 2017 to Quintin Demps, then regained it when Demps went down with an injury and finally made game-changing plays with a pick-six and two forced fumbles.
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95Now: Amos isn’t the playmaker that Eddie Jackson is, but he’s proven to be way more physical than his draft scouting report and rarely makes a mistake. He hit career-highs this season in tackles (73), passes defensed (nine) and interceptions (two) while starting every game.
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97In the postseason, Amos can make one more push for a new contract, either here in Chicago or a long-term deal elsewhere.
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99May 15 — Undrafted rookie CB Bryce Callahan signs with Bears
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101Then: The UDFA from Rice University didn’t really make much of a dent when he joined the team, and he was pretty unknown throughout camp, eventually joining the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. Then Callahan assumed the nickel corner spot and finally gave the Bears some ball production at the position. Injuries were always the issue, but Callahan won over the coaches and front office, having manned the position for four seasons now.
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103Now: Callahan won’t contribute in the playoffs, as he is on injured reserve with a foot injury, but he’s a big reason the Bears’ defense limited opponents. He had 45 tackles, two sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions, six tackles for loss and five QB hits before the injury. Callahan should be a top priority to re-sign in the offseason.
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1072016
108March 9 — Bears sign LB Danny Trevathan and OT Bobby Massie
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110Then: The biggest need in the offseason was inside linebacker, so the Bears welcomed Trevathan from a Super Bowl Broncos team. He had playoff experience, played for John Fox and was the athletic, fast playmaker they needed for the middle of the defense.
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112“He’s athletic. He’s got good speed. He’s got a good nose for the game, inside there,” Fangio said in May 2016. “Does a good job of finding the ball. Really the most tangible thing is that he’s athletic and he’s fast.”
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114We all saw Trevathan’s skills, but he had multiple injuries in 2016-17, costing him 11 total games.
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116Massie gave the Bears a starting right tackle, pairing him with his friend Kyle Long. His debut as a Bear was rough against the Texans, but Massie improved as his first season went along and was solid in 2017, too.
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118Now: Trevathan is having his best season as a Bear, with 102 tackles, two sacks, six passes defensed and two interceptions to go along with eight tackles for loss. His run defense is stellar and he’s a leader for the group, but most importantly, he’s been able to stay healthy, starting all 16 games.
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120“I’m all hands baby. My hands is real,” Trevathan after picking off his second pass of the season in a win over the 49ers in December.
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122Massie has started every game, missing only five snaps all season. Thought to be a potential cap casualty at the start of his tenure with the Bears, Massie now is a candidate to get re-signed.
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124“His progression has been really strong,” offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said. “He’s worked tremendously hard like all the guys, but he’s really put in a really good focus on the technique and the scheme that we’re running. Really pleased with him and how hard he works.”
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126March 13 — Bears add free agent DT Akiem Hicks
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128Then: Pace was in New Orleans with Hicks and brought him to Chicago on a two-year deal. Hicks had played well for the Patriots in 2015 after the Saints traded him, and the Bears provided a “prove-it” opportunity.
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130“He’s always been a guy who’s got that raw, brute strength and power and he’s still refining his technique and getting better,” Pace said. “And he’s a very coachable guy. So I still feel like there’s a lot of upside ahead of him.
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132Pace was right. In 2016, Hicks had seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 17 QB hits. He earned a contract extension prior to the 2017 season and continued to dominate in the trenches with a Pro Bowl-caliber season (8 1/2 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits).
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134Now: Hicks finally earned that Pro Bowl nod this season with 7 1/2 sacks, 12 tackles for loss (including five on Sunday Night Football vs. the Vikings), 16 QB hits, five passes defensed and three forced fumbles. He’s as stout as they come against the run and has terrorized quarterbacks, while also being a vocal leader for the D-line. He added a rushing touchdown in a play called “Freezer” in the Bears’ loss to the Giants.
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136“Akiem has come a long way,” Fangio said. “You guys know his history. He was in New Orleans for three or four years and didn’t have much success there at all and went to New England for half a season and did OK. I think a lot of people were surprised we signed him but we saw something in him that we thought we could develop and get him to play well within our scheme. And he’s done that.”
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138April 28 — Bears trade up to the No. 9 pick to select Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd
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140Then: The defense needed a speed threat off the edge, so Pace got aggressive in the draft to take Floyd, a raw player but one with ideal length and get-off.
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142“(Floyd) brings a great athleticism for a guy that tall and with that kind of length and will bring some juice to our defense that we need and will help our pass rush,” Pace said.
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144As a rookie, Floyd showed a ton of promise with seven sacks and a safety, but he got injured on his first day of training camp and his first season ended when he got carted off with a concussion. It was his second injury of the season.
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146The next season, Floyd flashed here and there once again with 4 1/2 sacks and another safety, but a knee injury ended his season after 10 games.
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148Now: It’s been an interesting 2018 campaign for Floyd, who broke a bone in his hand late in the preseason, forcing him to wear a cast that limited his effectiveness in September. He has only four sacks, along with a pick-six in Buffalo, but Floyd has started every game and been as active against the run as he has in his career. He may not have the sacks, but he has pressured quarterbacks throughout the season. He had his best game against the Packers on Dec. 16 with six tackles and two sacks. Khalil Mack’s presence has allowed Floyd a few more opportunities, too.
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150“It’s starting to turn up now. You’re starting to see more numbers from him,” Nagy said. “But to me he’s still flying around, doing everything. He’s practicing hard. And obviously I don’t think he’s pressing anymore. Not that he was a lot before but I think that it was in the back of his mind that he didn’t have any sacks. But now he’s just playing ball and that’s what we need.”
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152April 29 — After trading back in Round 2, Bears draft C Cody Whitehair, then DL Jonathan Bullard in Round 3
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154Then: Whitehair was drafted to be a guard, which was his position up until the week before Week 1, but Pace did say they valued his versatility.
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156Whitehair flourished at center as a rookie despite not being able to work there at all in the preseason — the acquisition of Josh Sitton moved Whitehair to the pivot position. In 2017, injuries forced Whitehair to spend some time at both guard spots and his play slipped a bit early, but he came on strong late.
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158With Bullard, the Bears liked what he could bring to their defensive line with his get-off. As a rookie, Bullard had one sack and four tackles for loss. He battled an injury last preseason and had one sack and two tackles for loss in 2017.
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160Now: Whitehair has not missed a start in three seasons. This year, he didn’t miss a snap at center. His toughness is valued. He has a great rapport with Mitch Trubisky and he’s established himself as a quiet leader for the offense. Considering the interior D-linemen in the NFC — starting with Fletcher Cox — Whitehair’s play along with the guard will be significant.
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162Bullard has never taken that next step, and he has fallen behind both Bilal Nichols and Roy Robertson-Harris on the depth chart. Still, he has played in every game this season and has three tackles for loss and two passes defensed.
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164April 30 — In the fifth round, Bears draft Indiana RB Jordan Howard
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166Then: Heading into the first season in the post-Matt Forte era, Pace brought in a bruiser of a runner to complement the quick Jeremy Langford.
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168“This guy is a downhill, physical, north/south runner,” Pace said about Howard. “I just like the style and physicality that he plays with as well. I think he complements our other backs very well. Type of running back that can just wear down the defense, just a very physical nature.”
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170We didn’t see much from Howard in the spring of his rookie season because of an injury, and he didn’t show a ton in training camp. Then in the preseason finale, he had 16 carries for 107 yards. Still, he was inactive in the season opener and played a reserve role before Langford got hurt in Dallas. Then Howard took over and never looked back.
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172As a rookie, Howard finished with 1,313 rushing yards at 5.2 yards per carry. He started every game in 2017 and rushed for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns.
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174Now: Nagy’s new offense brought about plenty of trade rumors for Howard, but he remained the lead back, playing in all 16 games with 15 starts. While Nagy’s offense hasn’t quite featured the run every game, Howard finished the season with 935 yards and nine touchdowns. He played his best in December with 101 yards vs. the Rams and 109 in the season finale in Minnesota.
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176Howard though he might be fresher for the playoffs because he wasn’t over-used this season.
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178“I think that’s a great point,” Nagy said. “I didn’t think of that, but I think it’s a great point. I think that Jordan’s a smart kid. He understands it. He’s telling you how his body feels. I think it’s … actually, a really good point. Yep.” 
179Whether it’s taking pressure off Trubisky, milking clock if the Bears have a lead late, or simply being the focal point on offense in the cold (at least in the wild-card game), Howard can be a big factor, but we’ve also seen the Bears win without much of an impact from him.
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181May 9 — Bears sign undrafted rookie OLB Roy Robertson-Harris out of UTEP
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183Then: Considered the most intriguing of the Bears’ undrafted rookies that spring, Robertson-Harris impressed in the spring with his rare size and length. But he was placed on the non-football injury list and missed his entire rookie season. In 2017, Robertson-Harris added weight and moved to the D-line, where he had only seven tackles, but two sacks and four QB hits.
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185Now: Robertson-Harris is a key player in the Bears’ nickel package along the D-line with Akiem Hicks. He uses his strength and frame well to pressure QBs and is tied for third on the team with 11 QB hits to go along with three sacks and two pass breakups.
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1892017
190March 10 — Bears sign CB Prince Amukamara to one-year deal
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192Then: Pace signed two cornerbacks to starter deals — Amukamara and Marcus Cooper. Suffice to say, Amukamara has worked out nicely. A former first-round pick of the Giants in 2011, Amukamara brought a veteran presence to the Bears. He didn’t have an interception last year, but the staff was pleased with his coverage, as quarterbacks rarely threw his way. This past March, Amukamara inked a three-year extension.
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194Now: Making good on his new contract, Amukamara has three interceptions this season, including a game-sealing pick-six against the Seahawks in Week 2. He had 12 passes defensed, his most since 2013. A veteran presence, he’s also been orchestrating many of the defense’s celebrations. While Fuller is more of an off-man cover corner, Amukamara can press and play physical with receivers.
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196April 27 — Bears trade up to the No. 2 pick to select QB Mitch Trubisky
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198Then: The stunner of the 2017 draft, and maybe the most notable draft day move in Bears history. Six weeks after signing Mike Glennon, Pace made the move for Trubisky, the franchise quarterback of the future, trading up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2.
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200“Just as I studied all these other quarterbacks, his accuracy jumps out right away,” Pace said hours after making the move. “His ability to process and see the whole field jumps out right away. He’s very athletic, he can extend the play. And one trait you’ll notice is as quarterbacks are extending the play, the ability to move around and keep his eyes down field still looking for open targets instead of just tucking the ball and wanting to run. Very good on third-down, very good completion percentage with pressure in his face. Just a lot of traits that he has that translate well to the NFL game.”
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202The move up was widely panned. Did the Bears really need to trade up one spot? Should they have taken Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes? But Pace showed conviction. The problem for Trubisky was he had to play behind Glennon and for a lame duck coaching staff as a rookie with the league’s worst receiving corps. He took over in Week 5 and threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions as a rookie.
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204Everything that came next revolved around the promise of Trubisky, from hiring Nagy to signing three pass catchers in free agency. Regardless of whether or not Trubisky can take the Bears to the Super Bowl, this acquisition is one of, if not the most important building blocks for the 2018 division champs.
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206Now: With a new play-caller and a significantly better receiving corps, Trubisky has had an interesting second season. Against Tampa Bay and Detroit, he put up franchise-record numbers. He also threw multiple interceptions four times, all home games — granted, the Bears went 3-1 in those contests. His legs became a major weapon (421 rushing yards) and he finished the season in an efficient and accurate manner. The Bears can go as far as Trubisky will take them in the postseason.
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208“He just handles adversity,” Nagy said of Trubisky going into the playoffs. “He knows how to run this offense now. He’s at a point right now where when he calls a play in the huddle, he can start looking at the defense rather than looking at the offense.”
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210April 28 — After trading back, Bears select TE Adam Shaheen in Round 2
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212Then: Pace took Trubisky with the intention of the quarterback waiting to play, and his second pick in the 2017 draft was another raw player, Shaheen, who was at Division II Ashland University but had outstanding size.
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214As a rookie, Shaheen’s best game came in Cincinnati, but that’s also where he suffered a season-ending injury. His strong preseason got derailed with a foot injury this past August in Denver before he was able to return in Week 11.
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216Now: Shaheen hasn’t been able to be an impact player in the passing game with only five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown this season, but he’s clearly the No. 2 and “Y” tight end for this offense who could be primed for an explosive play or a red-zone catch if defenses don’t focus on him, which would be understandable considering his lack of production. The coaching staff values his potential.
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218April 29 — In the fourth round, Bears select S Eddie Jackson and RB Tarik Cohen
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220Then: The best fourth round in Bears history? Undaunted by Jackson’s broken leg, Pace selected a player with game-breakinig ability as a returner at Alabama and someone they pegged as having rare instincts and good ball skills.
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222As a rookie, Jackson had a fumble-return touchdown and a pick-six vs. the Panthers. He had six passes defensed, two picks and three fumble recoveries on the season.
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224With Cohen, the Bears added speed and a gadget player for the offense and return game.
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226“He’s instinctive as a running back, he was productive in every season he had there,” Pace said. “Then you split him out of the backfield, and he’s going to shake and separate from a linebacker and a safety. So, he can create problems with his quickness and his suddenness, and his athleticism. Again, he was one of those guys we were all pretty fired up about and not just from the YouTube videos.”
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228Cohen didn’t disappoint and quickly became a beloved player in Chicago. He had 370 rushing yards and 353 receiving yards as a rookie and had a punt-return touchdown.
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230Now: Jackson and Cohen are two of the most important players to the success of the 2018 Bears because of their ability to change the game with one play. Both made the Pro Bowl.
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232Jackson has three touchdowns this season, including two pick-sixes to seal wins vs. the Lions and Vikings. He has six interceptions overall and 15 passes defensed. Jackson injured his ankle vs. Green Bay, but the hope is he can return for the playoffs.
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234“He’s playing on another level right now,” Nagy said in November. “He’s very instinctual. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. I haven’t been around too many guys—safeties and defensive backs—that have the awareness and instincts that he has.”
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236Cohen averages 12.5 yards per punt return and has seven 20-plus-yard returns. He has 444 rushing yards and 725 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Cohen has become the best weapon on the offense.
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238A playoff game could be won thanks to an impact play from either of these 2017 fourth-rounders.
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2422018
243Jan. 8 — Bears hire Matt Nagy as head coach
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245Then: Two days after the Chiefs coughed up a lead and lost at home in the playoffs, Nagy was named the Bears head coach, just a week after they fired John Fox and extended the contract of Ryan Pace. Nagy was a no-brainer candidate coming from the Andy Reid tree, but he didn’t have a ton of play-calling experience.
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247“Matt’s a proven leader,” Pace said at Nagy’s introductory presser. “He’s a winner, he’s intelligent, he’s innovative, he has strong character, he’s got a great family, and he shares the same passion for the game that I have. I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Reid, with him being a long-time leader in our league and a successful coach. Coach Reid believes in Matt Nagy, and so do I.”
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249Nagy brought the confidence we’ve come to know to his first day at Halas Hall. He was open about the playoff loss to the Titans, but wasn’t concerned about his lack of coaching experience. He also saw the Bears as a franchise with the arrow pointing up.
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251Now: The Bears are 12-4, Nagy is a leading candidate for coach of the year, the players love him, the fans love him, and hey, he’s good with the media. Hiring Nagy is in contention for Pace’s best acquisition.
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253For the playoffs, Nagy’s play-calling and clock management will be tested, but he is maintaining his “Be You” mantra that the players appreciate, which should allow them to be unfazed by the pressures of the postseason.
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255“Coach Nagy is a great coach. A young coach,” Hicks said. “But he doesn’t act as a young coach. He acts as somebody that has been coaching for 30 years. It’s something you appreciate and something you respect as a player, how he handles himself.”
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257Jan. 10 — Bears hire Harry Hiestand as offensive line coach
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259Then: Bringing in Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator certainly has been beneficial for Trubisky and he has given Nagy, who acts as the primary play-caller, another creative voice, but Nagy had to bring in an experienced O-line coach.
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261Hiestand was one of the most respected position coaches in football, having already coached in Chicago, and developed several first-rounders at Notre Dame.
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263“You talk anybody in this league, in college and/or the NFL, the amount of respect that he has as a coach and as a person is out of this world, and so, I want that,” Nagy said. “And I’m going to do everything I can to be a part of that and have that be part of this organization, so it goes without speaking that he knows what he’s doing, a ton of experience, and that’s such an integral hire to the offensive side of the ball, you have to have that guy and being able to get him really made me feel good.”
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265Now: Hiestand has done a nice job with rookie James Daniels and rotating guards during Long’s injury. Leno, Massie and Whitehair have all had impressive seasons. The Bears enter the playoffs 10th in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass attempt, and they just blanked the Vikings, who entered Week 17 as the league’s sacks leader. The run blocking was an issue earlier in the season, but seems to be coming together at the right time.
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267Jan. 12 — Vic Fangio returns as defensive coordinator
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269Then: Fangio originally joined the organization in January 2015 as John Fox’s hire, but for the story of the 2018 Bears, it’s important to recognize this moment, when Pace and Nagy kept the defensive guru in Chicago. Fangio reportedly had options, including Green Bay, but he returned, even though he was passed over after interviewing for the head-coaching job in Chicago.
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271“To me it was really simple. The numbers speak for themselves,” Nagy said. “Here’s a guy that has been in this league for a very long time and the production is there, talking about a top-10 defense year-in and year-out, a guy that me as a head coach will be able to learn defensively some of the ins and outs of what defenses do so well. … I’m excited to keep him on board and really looking forward to it.”
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273Now: All Fangio has done is helped orchestrate the league’s No. 1 defense, earning him head-coaching interview requests. The defense has been the story of the season not only in Chicago, but also maybe the entire NFL for how dominant it has been.
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275“He challenges you, quietly,” Mack said early in the season. “He has his own little swag about him, that Italian mafia kind of swag to him. But I love it. I love it.”
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277Fangio’s banner game this season was holding the Rams to six points on national television. That is likely the game that put the plain-spoken Fangio squarely in teams’ radars for coaching interviews.
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279“Well, we’re playing good,” Fangio said after the Bears clinched the division. “I mean, even I can’t deny that. We’re playing good. We’re playing solid.”
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281March 13 —  Pace adds WR Allen Robinson and TE Trey Burton
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283Then: Pace and Nagy didn’t waste any time massively upgrading the wide receiver and tight end positions.
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285Robinson was considered by many to be the top receiver available, and while he was one year removed from a torn ACL, he was two years removed from being a Pro Bowler. He gave the Bears a No. 1 wide receiver option.
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287Burton’s numbers weren’t gaudy in Philadelphia, but he played behind Zach Ertz and the Bears gave him a big contract to be the “U” tight end in Nagy’s offense.
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289“It’s interesting one of the first conversations Matt and I had once everything calmed down and we were talking football was the value of this position, the value of the ‘U’ tight end position in this offense,” Pace said. “And he painted that picture very clear, which is great for a scout to hear because it makes it easier to go find that person. And so Trey, he just fits a lot of the qualities we’re looking for in this offense. Obviously as a receiver his ability to separate, he’s got good hands, he’s an intelligent player and we feel like there’s a lot of upside ahead of him, and we feel like this offense can maximize that upside.” 
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291Now: Robinson has missed time with groin and ribs injuries, but at times has been that No. 1 wideout with his route-running abilities and savviness to get open and catch tough passes. He led the team with 754 receiving yards, averaging 13.7 yards per catch.
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293Burton has 54 receptions for 569 yards and six scores. His athleticism has been apparent and he’s been a nice safety valve for Trubisky against zone defenses.
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295Both players will have to prove their value in the playoffs, where Burton can use his experience as a Super Bowl champion a season ago.
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297March 14 — Bears sign WR Taylor Gabriel, QB Chase Daniel and PK Cody Parkey
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299Then: Remember the need for speed? Enter Gabriel, who gave Nagy two take-the-top-off-the-defense options alongside Cohen. Gabriel was also versatile to play outside and slot, while also being a ball carrier on jet sweeps.
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301The Bears invested a lot of money for a backup quarterback to sign Daniel, who was with Nagy in Kansas City and Pace in New Orleans. Getting the right No. 2 quarterback to both help mentor Trubisky and step in if needed was a priority.
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303After failing to adequately replace Robbie Gould, the Bears’ next attempt was Parkey, who went to a Pro Bowl as a rookie and kicked for Chris Tabor in Cleveland.
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305Pace referred to Parkey as a “proven kicker.”
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307Now: Gabriel has 67 receptions for 688 yards and two touchdowns. He has seven catches for 20 yards or longer and three 40+ yard grabs. The speed has been evident, but he also has been neutralized in the open field in some games, especially when teams go to a zone defense. That threat of Gabriel blowing past safeties and catching a Trubisky deep ball will be necessary for the offense in the playoffs.
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309Daniel did his job on Thanksgiving, stepping into a very tough situation and leading the Bears to a victory. He struggled the next week against the Giants, but helped the Bears rally to tie things up in an eventual loss. His playoff experience will be helpful in January (and February?).
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311Parkey has been the biggest disappointment of Pace’s acquisitions this past spring. He is 23-for-30 on field goals and has missed three extra points, famously hitting the upright four times in Week 10 against the Lions. Trubisky may be the “wild card” for this team in the playoffs, but no player will make Bears fans hold their breath more than Parkey, who may be called upon with a chance to kick the Bears into the next round, or send them home.
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313April 26 — With the No. 8 pick, Bears select Georgia ILB Roquan Smith
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315Then: It should have been the easiest draft pick Pace has made. Trevathan needed someone to join him in the middle of the defense, and Fangio’s front seven could always use a speed upgrade. The Bears valued Smith’s instincts and leadership.
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317“He’s got such great burst,” Pace said. “He’s such a sudden, twitchy player. He times his blitz very well and he has outstanding burst. He’s one of those guys, he just can uncoil when he hits, so when he strikes a guy, it’s very impactful. He’s built that way. You know, thick, sturdy build. Those things stand out.”
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319Smith was at rookie minicamp, OTAs and minicamp, but then didn’t sign his rookie contract until after training camp, which impacted the Bears in Week 1, when Smith barely played. But since then, he’s been a starter.
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321Now: Missing Bourbonnais didn’t hurt, as Smith has become a difference maker. His run defense and abilities in coverage have improved week after week. He leads the Bears with 122 tackles to go along with five sacks, eight tackles behind the line and five passes defensed. With good tight ends (Zach Ertz) and pass-catching running backs (Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara) in the NFC, Smith’s traits will be highlighted for Fangio’s defense.
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323April 27 — Bears draft G/C James Daniels, then trade up for WR Anthony Miller
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325Then: Pace addressed the offense on Day 2 of the draft, first with Daniels, a player some pegged as a first-round talent. Like Whitehair two years earlier, the Bears valued Daniels’ versatility and the pedigree of being an Iowa offensive lineman.
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327Then the Bears traded back into the second round to get Miller, who had the route running and playmaking abilities ideal for Nagy’s offense. And they loved his competitiveness.
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329In training camp, Daniels rotated between guard and center and battled an injury but looked pretty good at center in Cincinnati. Miller was the star of Bourbonnais, catching everything thrown his way.
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331Now: Daniels eventually took over at left guard after rotating with Eric Kush starting in Week 4. Nagy has lauded Daniels’ ability to recover if he’s beat, and he had one of his better games against Aaron Donald and the Rams. With Donald looming in the divisional round and Cox coming up Sunday, Daniels will be tested right away. His athleticism and awareness will be key to not get beat off the snap.
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333Miller leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns and was outstanding vs. Detroit (five catches for 122 yards), but was absent with zero catches in Weeks 14 and 15. There’s no questioning the route running, but sometimes it’s not as precise as the Bears need. Should the Bears have to win a shootout at some point, they’ll need all complements of the receiving game, including Miller, who has been effective in the red zone.
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335April 28 — In the fifth round, Pace selects DT Bilal Nichols out of Delaware
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337Then: This was more than an ode to Nagy’s alma mater. Nichols was pegged as a versatile player for the D-line with upside.
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339Now: Nichols was actually inactive in the season opener and played only 17 snaps in Weeks 2 and 3, but he made the most of it with a tackle for loss in Arizona that helped lead to a Bears victory. Nichols has been one of the pleasant surprises for Fangio’s defense. He has three sacks and five tackles for loss to go along with seven QB hits, which is more behind-the-line production than Bullard has shown. Nichols is the starter now in the base defense, and will make the jump from FCS football to contributing in the NFL playoffs in 13 months.
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341Sept. 1 — Bears trade for Khalil Mack and make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history
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343Then: The final acquisition by a Bears GM for the starters on the 2018 Bears is the most notable in the history of the team. Pace took a massive swing, taking advantage of a Raiders organization, led by owner Mark Davis and new head coach Jon Gruden, willing to trade one of the game’s best edge rushers for draft picks. He showed the conviction we’ve become accustomed to by trading away two first-round picks, and had all the confidence from ownership to make Mack the richest defensive player in NFL history.
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345When Pace had made aggressive moves in the past, sometimes the players came with question marks. There were none with Mack, who immediately turned the Bears from a plucky, upstart team into serious playoff contender.
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347“We always talk about, this is a premiere player at a premiere position, and this doesn’t come around that often,” Pace said the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. “So when it does come around, I’m just proud that I work for an organization that’s willing to be aggressive in these times and that Matt and I have the support to be aggressive and that starts with our ownership. When you feel like you can have that backing and act aggressively and quickly to make moves for this franchise, that’s what we did.”
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349Mack wasted no time making Pace look brilliant when he had one of the greatest halves of football for a defensive player with a pick-six and a strip-sack-recovery against the Packers in Week 1.
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351Now: A Pro Bowler and defensive player of the year candidate, Mack led the Bears with 12 1/2 sacks and 18 QB hits. He had six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 10 tackles for loss, and all that while missing two games, and playing two others with a sprained ankle.
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353Mack’s play has been astounding at times when he tosses tackles like rag dolls, or pushes them back into the quarterback. His play has elevated that of the teammates around him, who all have a little more confidence knowing they have an all-world player like Mack.
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355“When you got a guy like that to come over, you know, you heard about him and his two, three-time Pro Bowl, All-Pro guy, when you got a guy like that on your team it just makes you want to level up,” Eddie Jackson said. “Now you know you gotta step it up, you gotta work harder, you gotta show this guy that man, you’re not here to do it by yourself. And I felt like that’s one thing he did, he made everyone around him play even better, go to another level that some people feel we didn’t have.”
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357With a little help from Emery, Pace and the pro personnel staff constructed the roster that not only went 12-4, but is also mostly under contract for multiple years. George McCaskey gave Pace the time, and his aggressiveness came through this season, from head coach to star linebacker to a few Day 3 draft picks heading to the Pro Bowl.
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359Now this franchise begins its first playoff run in eight years, and based on the way this team was built, this isn’t a fluke. The Bears have an enviable roster with Trubisky on a rookie contract and late-round picks who are becoming stars, plus a head coach who has become one himself.
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361It took Pace four seasons, but it’s finally come to fruition.
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363© The Athlete